Lambert

ELKINS — Donald Lambert, Technical Sergeant with the West Virginia Air National Guard and Past Commander of The American Legion H.W. Daniels Post 29 in Elkins, was the Air National Guard recipient of The American Legion Auxiliary’s Salute to Servicemembers award.

Lambert received the award during the Auxiliary’s 103rd National Convention in New Orleans in August.

The award, presented annually at the National Convention, the Salute honors all military personnel who are currently serving our country in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force, and the National Guard/Reserve. 

As a right start NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) for the past two years, Lambert mentored and prepared 125 student flight members for the grooming standards of the U.S. Air Force, as well as handling many more tasks and responsibilities.  

Lambert joined The American Legion in 2014 at age 18, one day after he returned from basic military training. He immediately held a variety of positions at the post, district, and department levels.

Lambert was the youngest post commander in The American Legion at 22 — commanding a post of 461; he became district commander at 23 — commanding 11 posts with more than 1,000 members; and also held department membership vice chair at the same time — working with 33 posts and more than 3,000 members.

It was during this that he was selected by the National Guard Bureau to be the Spirit of Service Award recipient for National Guard Bureau by the National Headquarters of The American Legion. 

Lambert then served as a department assistant sergeant-at-arms, 2020 National American Legion College graduate, and is currently again a department membership vice chair and is the chair of the Department of West Virginia Americanism Committee. He currently serves as Americanism officer and membership chair at Post 29. 

Lambert and his wife Tiffanie have a son, Elliott. He currently has five generations of Auxiliary members in his family. He, Elliott, and his brother are also members of the Sons of The American Legion. In his civilian career, Lambert works for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program.